Power Ministry Forms Committee to Standardise Smart Meter Training

24 Sep 2025 CW Team

The National Data Analytics and Reporting Centre at the National Power Training Institute, Faridabad, will conduct training programmes for DISCOM officials and provide guidance on customising use case analytics. It will also offer a “Leadership and Strategic Management” course for senior management to support effective implementation of data analytics.

The steering committee will supervise the design and development of training modules, approve SOPs and guidelines emphasising cybersecurity and data privacy, ensure alignment with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider Standard Bidding Document, suggest a central support mechanism for DISCOMs, and review programme implementation.

The sub-working group will assist in designing modules for employees across levels—from executive engineers to managing directors—and consult stakeholders to develop SOPs, guidelines, and a handbook focused on data analytics, cybersecurity, and privacy.

This initiative forms part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aimed at institutionalising data analytics-based decision-making across utilities and unlocking the full value of data generated through Advanced Metering Infrastructure.

The Smart Meter National Programme under RDSS targets completion by 31 March 2026. As of February 2025, only 20.85 million smart meters had been installed against the 250 million target for FY26.

The Rs 3.3 trillion (~$37.36 billion) RDSS is expected to be extended by two years until FY28. The Ministry informed Parliament’s Standing Committee on Energy that significant work remains, particularly in smart meter deployment, which is likely to take approximately two years.

The Ministry of Power is establishing a steering committee and a sub-working group of domain experts to standardise training modules and create standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for smart meter data analytics, adoption of standards-based regimes, and cybersecurity practices for distribution companies (DISCOMs).The National Data Analytics and Reporting Centre at the National Power Training Institute, Faridabad, will conduct training programmes for DISCOM officials and provide guidance on customising use case analytics. It will also offer a “Leadership and Strategic Management” course for senior management to support effective implementation of data analytics.The steering committee will supervise the design and development of training modules, approve SOPs and guidelines emphasising cybersecurity and data privacy, ensure alignment with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Provider Standard Bidding Document, suggest a central support mechanism for DISCOMs, and review programme implementation.The sub-working group will assist in designing modules for employees across levels—from executive engineers to managing directors—and consult stakeholders to develop SOPs, guidelines, and a handbook focused on data analytics, cybersecurity, and privacy.This initiative forms part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), aimed at institutionalising data analytics-based decision-making across utilities and unlocking the full value of data generated through Advanced Metering Infrastructure.The Smart Meter National Programme under RDSS targets completion by 31 March 2026. As of February 2025, only 20.85 million smart meters had been installed against the 250 million target for FY26.The Rs 3.3 trillion (~$37.36 billion) RDSS is expected to be extended by two years until FY28. The Ministry informed Parliament’s Standing Committee on Energy that significant work remains, particularly in smart meter deployment, which is likely to take approximately two years.

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